Welcome back! The summer has gone so fast, it seems like we just left. As the assistant principal, I am looking forward to an exciting, successful, and rewarding school year. The issuing of parking permits will be slightly different than last year. This year all applications were mailed home during the first week in August. The completed applications are due prior to August 23rd. This year students will not have assigned parking spots; however, a permit will be required to park on the school property. Only seniors and juniors are eligible to drive and may drive beginning the first day. Obey all driving regulations and remember that the speed limit on school grounds is 10 mph. Students may only enter and exit the school lots via the South drive off of Rte. 306 (by Geauga West Library). Please refer to the map that was included with the application and park anywhere in the student lots on the south and west side of the school until parking places are assigned. The cost of a parking permit is $30.00 and will be collected at the time that permits are issued. The funds collected will go to the students’ class treasury and maintenance of the lot. Students will be required to show a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance in order to receive a parking permit. Permits will be assigned in the order the applications they are returned. Permits will be issued to seniors first and then juniors as soon as possible after school starts. There will be no permits issued to sophomores under any circumstances.
We had a great school year last year and I am looking forward to an even better one this year. I want to emphasize a couple of points regarding the Code of Conduct. Students are reminded to dress appropriately for school. Tank tops, bare midriffs and short shorts are not permitted. Profanity of any type will not be tolerated and may result in suspension. Electronic devices of any kind should not be brought to school. Academic honesty will be a major theme for this school year. With the easy access to the Internet, parents should discuss with students that only original work will be accepted from students. Anti-plagiarism software may be used to check papers and reports.
Parents are required to notify the school anytime your student will be absent from school. The attendance line (729-5951) is manned from 7:15 – 9:00 a.m. and voice mail is available 24/7. Requests to leave school early for appointments etc. should be made at least 24 hours in advance in order to assure that the proper passes are issued. Any time your child needs to leave school or arrive late he/she must go through the attendance office. Your cooperation with the attendance procedures will assist us in recording and reporting accurate attendance. Students with chronic absence and tardiness will be reported to the Geauga County attendance officer.
If you need to contact your child throughout the day, it is imperative that you contact the school’s attendance office at 440-729-5958. The school will locate your child and deliver the message. Please do not call your child on his/her cell phone. Teachers discourage students from carrying their cell phone throughout the day. Phone calls during instructional time disrupt the education process.
In recent years the internet has brought us a whole new world of social interaction. These relatively new forms of networking allow our students to post pictures, chat and publish themselves online. Cell phones are now equipped with cameras and it is very easy to take a photograph and upload it to the internet or send it to many contacts. Digital media has an extremely long life and can be easily duplicated. It is very important that parents monitor the content that children place on the World Wide Web. We need to make students aware that their online behavior can have repercussions.
Anytime you have questions or need clarification concerning attendance procedures, parking permits, or discipline issues, please contact me. I am looking forward to making this year a successful one for each of your children.
Jay Bishop, Assistant Principal